'Clunky', 'outmuscled' Ireland looked 'unrecognisable' in defeat to New Zealand - Brian O'Driscoll

Ireland's 19-match winning run in Dublin came crashing to an end when they were well beaten in a 23-13 defeat to New Zealand on Friday in the Autumn Nations Series. Irish rugby legend Brian O'Driscoll told TNT Sports after the game that the team looked "unrecognisable," adding that the performance was "clunky at times." Ireland captain Caelan Doris admitted his side "weren't good enough."

Doris admits Ireland ‘weren’t good enough’ in All Blacks defeat – ‘We didn’t fire enough shots’

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ireland looked “unrecognisable” in their defeat to New Zealand, according to TNT Sports expert Brian O’Driscoll, who found the “clunky” performance “very frustrating” to watch.

The world No. 1 side went into the game in Dublin on a 19-match winning home run but failed to impress as they were turned over 23-13 by the All Blacks.

It was a surprisingly muted performance from Andy Farrell’s side as they failed to exact revenge on the tourists for last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat.

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Ireland started the second half brightly when Josh van der Flier crossed the try line to put them in front, but they failed to use the moment as a springboard – much to O’Driscoll’s despair.

“They just got outmuscled in the end. When the purple patch came in you thought they need to kick on from there,” O’Driscoll said on TNT Sports’ coverage.

“But too many unforced errors…it was just quite clunky at times. Unrecognisable from what we’ve seen from them in the past.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

“So very frustrating from their perspective and ours. But you would imagine they will get better over the course of this November.

“They definitely got out-physicalled. They didn’t manage to kick on from [the try] and build momentum. You just thought we need another quick score or piece of territory, and it didn’t materialise.”

Doris – We weren’t good enough

Ireland captain Caelan Doris gave an honest assessment of his side’s performance, admitting “we weren’t good enough.”

The back-row forward was asked by TNT Sports after the game where he thought things went wrong for his side.

“I think discipline was a big part. It felt like we didn’t fire enough shots,” Doris said.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

“Part of that was maybe our defence letting them hold onto the ball and then attack, not hunting it back and trying to get turnovers as much as we would have liked. I’m not sure exactly what the answers are right now.”

“We will be better because of it,” he added.

“We’ve still got three big games over the next three weeks which are exciting. We’re just going to have to improve because we weren’t good enough tonight.”

Ireland have the chance to make amends when Argentina visit on Friday, November 15 for their second Test of the Autumn Nations Series.

That will be followed by a clash with Fiji on November 23 and Australia on November 30, with all three matches live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Van der Flier try edges Ireland in front against All Blacks - 'Patience the key'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream the Gallagher Premiership, 2024 Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+

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Thoughts?